Grid-connected solar microinverter reference design using a dsPIC digital signal controller

As the world is more and more concerned with fossil fuel exhaustion and environmental problems caused by conventional power generation, renewable resources are becoming a focal point of the environmental movement, both politically and economically. Such renewable resources include photovoltaic (PV) and wind generation systems.

Using renewable resources on a large scale is a cost problem and in most cases, more research is needed to make their use cost-effective. PV systems, also termed solar microinverters, have gained greater visibility during the past several years as a convenient and promising renewable energy source. These energy systems have several advantages compared to other forms of renewable power, such as wind energy.

The main drawbacks of PV energy are the high cost of manufacturing silicon solar panels and the low conversion efficiency. With the newer techniques of manufacturing crystalline panels and efficient power converter design, it is possible to make a PV project cost-effective.

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